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“You Can’t Get Rich Here”: 35 People Reveal The Best And The Worst Thing About Their Countries
The phrase ‘there’s no place like home’ was probably made up by someone who wanted to feel better about where they came from. It’s not a secret that every country has its advantages and disadvantages, but since you can’t actually pick the place you’re born in, embracing everything about it is just a part of the process.
People from different places around the world joined this online thread to share the pros and cons of their homeland. From culture and food to politics, economy, and the quality of life, true experts share what makes their home so easy yet so incredibly difficult to love. And it’s a perfect opportunity to learn things about countries you would never find in tourist brochures.
Scroll down to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly about these countries in a list that could serve as a blatant guide to check before choosing a travel destination or a new place to live. And don’t forget to praise and expose your country in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Switzerland.
Con: high cost of living.
Pro: the flag is a big plus.
RELATED:
#2
United Kingdom.
Pro: Beautiful countryside that generally has public access.
Con: Run by a bunch of corrupt and useless tw*ts.
#3
Australia.
Pro: No guns and free healthcare.
Cons: everything wants to kill you and the sun gives you cancer.
#5
Norway.
Pro: incredibly beautiful and clean nature.
Con: the weather is often so bad you need to stay indoors.
VioletHunter 2 years ago (edited)
The real con is the months of basically complete darkness imo. That's so much worse than bad weather.
#6
Finland.
Pro: people avoid you.
Con: that's kinda lonely.
#7
Canada.
Pro: free healthcare.
Con: it takes so long to get that you might die waiting for it.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 2 years ago (edited)
Same in Mexico. There is free healthcare, doctors are well trained and the attention is good, but it is so understaffed, bureaucracy-ridden and slow that most who can afford it just go for private care.
#8
Scotland.
Pro - it's pretty stunning.
Con - The weather is s**t.
Donkey boi 2 years ago
Scotland: Pros - One of the most beautiful places to explore. Food fit for the climate. Con - Midges!
#9
UK Pro: We're like a USA lite. Some of the good parts of the US without the guns and religion.
Con: We're like a USA lite.
#10
México. Tacos and narcos.
#11
I'm Venezuelan.
A pro is that our food is delicious, a con is that for like five years we had none of it.
Capybara With a Cat 2 years ago
Venezuela is one of the most beautiful countries on the world, sad what's goin on there
#12
Armenia.
Pro: We still exist.
Con: Unsure for how much longer though since 3 neighbors repeatedly genocide/ethnicically cleanse/invade us.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Looking up the web for civil war in Armenia. It started in about 200 BC. The first Nagorno-Karabakh war started in 1988.
#13
Pro: if you're rich it's one of the best places in the world.
Con: you can't get rich here.
Italy
#14
USA.
Pro: I have the freedom to choose the profession I love.
Con: I have to practice active shooter drills with my sweet kindergarten students.
Bonus!! Pro: my pay is funded by the government.
Con: My pay has me constantly worried about having enough money for my bills.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
That's a weird choice of pro. Even most people living in dictatorships and autocracies have the freedom to choose a profession they love. And certainly everyone in a democracy does.
#15
Egypt.
Pros: it has an airport.
Cons: I don't have money to get on a plane in that airport to get the hell out.
Severus S 2 years ago
Con -women are not safe here, many women I know have been groped and harassed, and a lot of men wont talk to you if you are with a man they will ask your husband/boyfriend instead, very agressive salesmen in shops, friend was puled into a shop and they locked the door telling her to buy something, she had to scream to be let out.
#16
South Africa.
Pros: Amazing climate, amazing food, amazing people, incredible landscapes and natural beauty, affordable cost of living compared to the rest of the world, robust private sector.
Cons: Horrific corruption, poverty is rife, horrendous public service delivery, rolling blackouts, inflation, stagnant economic growth.
#17
Brazil.
Pro: it's a beautiful country.
CON: we have 9000 bank robberies or street-armed robberies every day.
Red Reilly 2 years ago
Two of my Brazilian friends were comparing bullet wounds they have and laughing about it. I'm just standing there going, wha.. that's terrible! and they were like, ahhh it's Brazil.
#18
The Netherlands Too many pros so ill name a rather unknown one Pro: we have specialized tools for everything. Need a tool to cut out the seeds of an appel, here you go appelseedscutter. Want to get every little piece out of ketchup or appel sauce put of your bottle, here a flessenlikker. Con: house crisis, cost of living.
Diolla 2 years ago
OP forgot the kaasschaaf, a tool to slice cheese. Very important!!!! Osthyvel_2...6d71e9.jpg 
#19
India.
Pro: amazing food & festivals.
Con: religious tension, overpopulation & corrupt government.
silowew628@picvw.com 2 years ago
Terrible pollution, terrible air quality, and a lot of poor sanitation.
Kookamunga 2 years ago
Drinking and bathing in the Ganges while a body floats by.
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censorshipsucks 2 years ago
Just to balance the negativity: amazing culture and ancient history. One of the oldest civilisations on earth.
Mental Liberals 2 years ago
Murdering all your women After they're raped - wonderful "religion" and culture! Keep it! Send me the food...
christopher geoghegan 3 months ago
the people are survivors, fake friendliness, kiss up and kick down mentality, a*****t women all the time on public transport.
Susan Williamson-Welker 2 years ago
Lots of people hate Indian food, that's why you don't see Indian franchises everywhere. The overpopulation is an issue they REFUSE to do anything about. Infrastructure and sewage are atrocious. Women get gang raped..
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
In the UK, Indian restaurants are pretty much the most common type... As for REFUSING to do anything about overpopulation, there was a pretty concerted and rampantly unethical effort to do something about it by coercing people into being sterilised, and there are still millions of sterilisations carried out every year, though supposedly no longer coercive. What more do you suggest?
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VioletHunter 2 years ago
So like every other elite on this planet. Others just hide their poor better imo.
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LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
Get off of here you racist piece of dog c**p 💩
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#20
Germany.
con: we had one of, if not THE world's most infamous leader in history represent our country and it still haunts us to this day. Our education system is on par with American dumpsterfire and our current military would get soloed by our local gym.
pro: we got some hella good non-alcoholic drinks here, tho.
#21
Pros: Beautiful beaches and views, great weather, hospitable people.
Cons: Corruption, exploitation of the marginalized members of the society, nepotism, bad infrastructure, low pay, and the culture of placing celebrities and politicians at the pedestal of our society.
Welcome to the Philippines.
cerinamroth 2 years ago
I'm married to a Filipino and have visited many times. Pros: Beautiful scenery, incredible biodiversity, very hospitable people, great food, family-friendly, cheap pampering in the form of massages and manicures, etc. Cons: Poverty, celebrity worship/consumerism, pollution and (for me personally) the humidity!
#22
Spain.
Pros: almost everything: weather, food, open minded society, relatively affordable, free healthcare…
Cons: Our people always thinking that life is better anywhere else.
Mat O'Dowd 2 years ago
Sounds like a great place, let the moaners go! PS: I enjoy going to Spain, specially in winter when the weather is grey and gloomy in France.
#23
Greece: Pros: * The weather is nice, except in the summer when the sun just hates your very existence and you roast alive even with the AC on full blast. * Nice beaches, in the right weather. * Kick*ss cuisine.
Cons: * Greeks have a reputation of hospitality but honestly, we are not a very nice people. Sexist, closed-minded, always out to exploit others for gain. * Greeks naturally just hate each other over the shi*tiest things. We're talking actively, maliciously wishing misery upon one another, especially the ones we view as in any way successful or 'different'. * Anyone in the tourism industry is an exploitative shark, the islands are no longer places where people actually live, they are just glorified resorts for the rich.
#24
China.
Pro: culinary peak of the world, I'm very objective.
Con: we kinda live under the facade of a monarchy in the name of socialism.
#25
France.
Pro: THE food, landscape.
Cons: Strikes, and for foreigners, poor level of English (and others languages)
TheAmericanAmerican 2 years ago
I'd consider the strikes a huge pro. You keep your government and their capitalist overlords somewhat afraid!
#26
United Kingdom.
Pro: Universal healthcare, beautiful countryside, nothing that can kill you, good infrastructure, more cheeses than France, more beers than Germany, lush, no cockroaches, no snakes, almost no mosquitos, good education, religion in deep decline.
Cons: Cost of living, Pay rates, Non-income taxation (hidden taxation), Brexit, Conservatism, urban decline.
Sian Edwards 2 years ago
We have snakes. One species of which is venomous. It won't kill you but it will hurt for a while. Our education system has gone to s*it. We have cockroaches and plenty of mosquitoes (although our mozzies don't carry diseases - yet). Compared to the rest of Europe our infrastructure is dreadful and expensive. We may have universal healthcare, but the waiting lists are so long that people are dying before seeing specialists. Doctors and nurses and paramedics have been on multiple strikes.
#27
Bosnia.
Pros: probably one of the best and most delicious food in Europe - ćevapi and burek unimaginable for anyone who didn't try them, even vegetables is for some reason much more appetising than in Great Brittain and Germany.
Cheap restaurants - for 15 -20 euros you can eat whatever and whereever you want
Coffe culture - everyday, even at work, there is bare minimum of one paid, sometimes two half-hour long pauses when people stop with everything and socialize in cafe.
Crime rate - although there is a lot of crime like corruption there is not much robbery and things like that and is safe in almost every city to walk alone in any time of day.
Hospitality - it is part of culture that everybody greet guests in their house with table full of food, some rakija - homemade brandy made from plum, pear, quince - we're experts in that, they teach you how to make rakija and show hospitality from childhood basicaly.
Free education and healt care - I can't stress this enough. There is no student loans, most universities are state owned universities and healt care is also free, even most medicament are free!
Cons:
Corruption: everything, and I mean everything is ruled by political connections, and because Bosnia is country of Bosnian muslims, Croatian catholtick and Serbian Orthodox christians (plenty of citizens don't consider Bosnia as their country, rather Serbia and Croatia) there is plenty of corruption and stealing of money.
National tensions: war from 90s is almost everyday topic, we are living in the past
Standard of living: salaries are pretty basic, if you have salary cca 2000-3000 euros you will literary live like an milionaire in USA, but if you are without political connections or expert in you area of work, you will find it extremly hard to find a job and unfortunately plenty of people are emigrating.
Mrs. Ginger McSarcasm 2 years ago
The hospitaility thing seems like a little much to me. But maybe there's less introverts there and more people who enjoy having company.
#28
Ireland
Pros: No guns, so a very safe place to live.
Cons: Totally unaffordable rent and near impossible to buy a house.
#29
Pro : Anything, anywhere, any time. Food, alcohol, whatever.
Con : Way too much politics, casteism, division, racism, unsafe environment for girls, road rage.
Country : India
#30
Portugal.
Major pros: Great food and nice weather.
Major cons: Incompetent government and c**p economy.
#31
Myanmar.
Cons: One of the poorest countries in the world ruled by a malicious military dictator who kills everyone who opposes him. Unending civil war (Edit: World's longest actually). Economy in the sh**ter. Basically, everything is much worse than almost every other country on earth.
Pros: We don't tend to live that long
#32
Colombia.
Pro: Great weather, biodiversity.
Con: violence, corruption.
#33
For Canada, I would say this A pro : Peace of mind. I don't have to worry if I will be able to afford college for my kids, I did not worry about money when my kids need healthcare, I don't have to worry about health insurance if I'm unemployed, I don't have to worry about being financially ruined if I get injured in an accident and the OTHER driver was at fault and not insured, I can just enjoy life and even if I have minimum savings and both my kids want to be doctors, money will never get in the way of that. A con : Winter can be rough. It's cold, everything gets dirty because snow is only nice and white for some time before cars turn it to that brown slush, and taxes are steep. Almost 40% of my income goes right back in taxes and on top of that, we can easily pay 12-15% in sales taxes which is a lot.
#34
Kazakhstan.
Pro: Best economy and tourism in Central Asia.
Con: Economy, tourism still s****y.
#35
Netherlands - Pro: bureaucracy gets s**t done - Con: bureaucracy doesn't get s**t done It works really well when it works, it is really s**t when it doesn't work basically.
#36
Malaysia.
Pros: Natural disasters doesn't occur frequently. Abundant natural resources.
Cons: Religious bigots ruining the country for everyone. Affirmative action for the majority.
#37
Belgium:
Pro: culture and food.
Con: the "goverment".
Capybara With a Cat 2 years ago
Pro: they invented chips. 🍟 Con: the US calls them ''french Fries'' anyway🍟
#38
Pro : Beautiful landscape Con : No other pros (Slovakia) EDIT: to be fair, in landscape we can count some cities and castles too, so more like, geography, and there is also low crime rate as far as i noticed
#39
Singapore.
Pros: Healthcare system where you pay based on your ability to pay with government subsidies, yet is very high quality, accessible and efficient. Very low crime rate. A lot of nice green architecture and increasing amounts of renewable energy. Very high home ownership rate of good quality public and private housing 80-90%. One of the worlds highest GDP per capita. Poor are allowed to rent apartments from the government for dirt cheap. Very good food. Cons: Very high cost of living that’s continuing to rise, increasing wealth inequality, increasingly harder to buy a home. The government keeps banning all the fun TV shows and movies.
Donkeywheel 2 years ago (edited)
You forgot a tiny thing : that’s not a democracy but an authoritarian regime that dictates everything. Thus no liberty at all. An open air prison.
#40
Poland Pro: not much going on Con: not much going on On the one hand you get low crime rate, low homelessness, stable employment rate, stable growth, not nearly as bad of a housing crisis compared to the west, cheap, fast and robust city and intercity public transport, decent public healthcare and education, conveniently placed żabkas on every street, nearly all housing is decent quality, extremely high chances you won't go cold, you won't be hungry, you won't be stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare, you won't be sick, you won't be bankrupt On the other hand we still power everything with coal and gasoline, we refuse to grant lgbt people marriage or anything like that, the church is strong, abortion isn't that accessible, generally no progress on social issues, and while your basic needs are nicely met, your polish wage will probably not grant you much else - gonna ride a 20yo car to your job in front of a 10yo computer so that you can go home and watch your newly bought 8yo TV. So, not much going on. You're gonna have a stable but quiet life here. You're gonna be tired but eh, could've been worse, at least your landlord does not give you any headaches so long as you pay up, and you always do. The flat is small, but there's no mould like in Birmingham and it's not legit cramped like in amsterdam. If you're queer you're gonna be queer exclusively at home. The air smells funny and your kid developed allergies. Allergy medication is cheap, thankfully. That's about it. Spice it up with a little vodka on the weekend, it's way cheaper than actual hobbies. Generally, a little money solves all problems but a little-little money is all you have.
#42
The Netherlands. Pro: the weather, generally nice. Neither hot nor warm. Con: the food is unbelievably boring.
#43
Singapore. Pro: Decent healthcare, education, public transport, public housing, no gun violence, no major drug problem. Con: something something Disneyland with the death penalty something something.
#44
Sweden.
Con: Swedish justice system is really s****y imo.
Pro: sun never goes down in the summer.
BoredPossum 2 years ago
That was the best pro you could come up with? The Swedish false modesty working true to form. Pros: Very few religious people, "free" health care, a democracy, great scientific quality, well developed technical standard, and Internet coverage, clean massive forests, clean water, tolerant culture, civil rights etc etc. Con: people voting for nazi-derived a$$hats trying to destroy all of that and replace it with a viking-like society.
#45
Romania.
Pro: if you have euros and convert them in my currency you're rich.
Con: gang sword fights between roms.
#46
Russia.
PROs: amazing nature, beautiful women, generally friendly people, accessible and convinient online services.
CONs: delusional warmongering leadership, many of these beautiful women and friendly people supporting abovementioned leadership, also you can get conscripted via accessible and convinient online services.
#47
Scotland.
Pro • Beautiful scenery • We have Bens, Glens and Lochs • Deep Fried Mars Bar • NHS • Still Game Con • Politics dividing a country • Religion dividing a country • Football teams dividing a country • High cost of living • Expensive public transport
Boris Long-Johnson 2 years ago (edited)
Too many tourists. Too many English incomers coming for the better old age healthcare and “cheap” (comparatively) housing ruining the area and pricing everyone out of the market. Plus Westminster stopping any kind of reform.
#48
Austria:
Pro: very good Healthcare.
Con: Racism, sexism homophobia, you name it, is out of control.
TMoxraaaar 2 years ago
So when people are beat up for being any of those things they have free healthcare. Yes I'm being ironic
#49
Italy. Pro: we have really nice views with ancient stuff everywhere, have nice clothes and good food. Con: low pays for very high home rent/selling prices, a bit of intolerance here and there, cities are really cr*ppy-managed, expecially about trash and pollution. People have no respect of public places.
Sans Serif (Sans) 2 years ago
"People have no respect of public places" and most of them are tourists!!
#50
Pro: Universal healthcare Con: stagnant wage growth/s**t government. Australia.
#51
Argentina.
Pros: Lots of memes. About anything and everything, specially the negative aspects. The term "there's always a silver lining" doesn't even come close.
Cons: +50% poverty, most corrupt politicians ever, the average income is between 200 and 300 USD and getting lower every minute, and there's literally nothing you can do about it.
#52
Nigeria Pro: pretty lawless if you have money, you can get away with most (any) things Cons: Same point as above, absolute s**t value of life.
#53
Ireland Pros: Friendly people, lots of greenery, high level of eduction (particularly at college level) Cons: Our housing market is an utter joke - so much demand and null supply, weather is pretty meh from September to March.
Glenn Schroeder 2 years ago (edited)
Was anyone else struck by the irony of "high level of eduction" (I assume the writer mean education)?
#54
USA.
Pros: We have a military budget big enough to fight god.
Cons: We use it on dumb stuff.
#55
Kuwait.
Pros: Easy life, good money, very safe.
Cons: Boring, expensive, extremely hot summer.
#56
USA.
Pro: guns are easy to get.
Con: guns are easy to get.
“It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” - Dr. Seuss Being a responsible gun owner is not all that difficult. Education and communication is key.
#57
TURKEY Pros: * Naturally really beautiful. All those archeologic sites, natural beaches, Cappadocia etc. * Delicious food. * Friendly people. * Good weather. Can swim and also can go skiing. Cons: * Erdoğan * S****y government and economy * All those immigrant Syrians, Pakis etc. who do nothing but use our resources, breed like crazy and look at our women as if they want to eat them.
What do you think ?
silowew628@picvw.com 2 years ago
It really feels like the world is on the verge of collapse. Fascism is rising almost everywhere, people can't afford to live and have a home, wars and more wars - it seems like it's all about to come to a head. 😕
Glenn Schroeder 2 years ago
I don't think the world is in much worse shape than it's ever been, and better in some ways. We think it's bad because so many people focus on the bad while overlooking the good.
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Limey 2 years ago
Disturbing how many of the cons regardless of country were “corruption” and often specifically “corrupt government”. This appears to be a problem far wider than just a specific country.
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Yep. There's parts of the world where if you don't have the ability to slip a bribe during a handshake, you may as well avoid the country. And, yes, I have learned that skill.. And that's just to get out of the airport. The corruption is one thing that *does* trickle down. (Profits, not so muc.)
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CanadianDimes 2 years ago
Pro when I moved to the UK: part of the EU :) Con now: Not part of the EU :(
Ranger Kanootsen 2 years ago
Since I used to live in Kenya: Pros - A large amount of diversity with language, communities and landscapes, great weather, affordable cost of living Cons - it's quite unsafe bc of high crime rate, limited transport options and roads are s**t, SO MUCH corruption, good luck finding water, little variety with food as low imports.
Lily Braunekatze 2 years ago
Canada, Pro: vast landscape, diverse culture, high standard of living, universal healthcare, clean drinking water, low crime rate, good infrastructure Con: Because of our close relationship with the USA we import all their political hatred. Our politicians are constantly trying to pit the working class against each other so that we forget that the rich and mega corps are bleeding us all dry.
DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago
Trinidad & Tobago Pro: Beautiful island, diverse people and wonderful food infused with all different cultures. Con: We are fast becoming a crime ridden and corruption nation.
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 2 years ago
The World has, is, and will always be a horrible place...of that you can always be assured.
Jonathan MacFarlane 2 years ago
This isn't just US-bashing, we're at world-bashing at this point.
Jade (she/they) 2 years ago
Not a country, but a province. Newfoundland. Pros: Beautiful scenery, free healthcare, and most of the locals are quite nice. Cons: The weather is sh*t, there's barely any hospitals here, and most of the nicer locals are in rural areas.
Yugan Talovich 2 years ago
Taiwan, pro: beautiful scenery, friendly people, very safe, excellent health service, great food. Cons: noisy, governing party just screams and does nothing constructive, humid, crowded. Neutral: we've been hearing that the PRC is about to attack for the last 70+ years, so let's get something to eat instead of worrying about that.
silowew628@picvw.com 2 years ago
It really feels like the world is on the verge of collapse. Fascism is rising almost everywhere, people can't afford to live and have a home, wars and more wars - it seems like it's all about to come to a head. 😕
Glenn Schroeder 2 years ago
I don't think the world is in much worse shape than it's ever been, and better in some ways. We think it's bad because so many people focus on the bad while overlooking the good.
Load More Replies... Limey 2 years ago
Disturbing how many of the cons regardless of country were “corruption” and often specifically “corrupt government”. This appears to be a problem far wider than just a specific country.
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Yep. There's parts of the world where if you don't have the ability to slip a bribe during a handshake, you may as well avoid the country. And, yes, I have learned that skill.. And that's just to get out of the airport. The corruption is one thing that *does* trickle down. (Profits, not so muc.)
Load More Replies... CanadianDimes 2 years ago
Pro when I moved to the UK: part of the EU :) Con now: Not part of the EU :(
Ranger Kanootsen 2 years ago
Since I used to live in Kenya: Pros - A large amount of diversity with language, communities and landscapes, great weather, affordable cost of living Cons - it's quite unsafe bc of high crime rate, limited transport options and roads are s**t, SO MUCH corruption, good luck finding water, little variety with food as low imports.
Lily Braunekatze 2 years ago
Canada, Pro: vast landscape, diverse culture, high standard of living, universal healthcare, clean drinking water, low crime rate, good infrastructure Con: Because of our close relationship with the USA we import all their political hatred. Our politicians are constantly trying to pit the working class against each other so that we forget that the rich and mega corps are bleeding us all dry.
DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago
Trinidad & Tobago Pro: Beautiful island, diverse people and wonderful food infused with all different cultures. Con: We are fast becoming a crime ridden and corruption nation.
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 2 years ago
The World has, is, and will always be a horrible place...of that you can always be assured.
Jonathan MacFarlane 2 years ago
This isn't just US-bashing, we're at world-bashing at this point.
Jade (she/they) 2 years ago
Not a country, but a province. Newfoundland. Pros: Beautiful scenery, free healthcare, and most of the locals are quite nice. Cons: The weather is sh*t, there's barely any hospitals here, and most of the nicer locals are in rural areas.
Yugan Talovich 2 years ago
Taiwan, pro: beautiful scenery, friendly people, very safe, excellent health service, great food. Cons: noisy, governing party just screams and does nothing constructive, humid, crowded. Neutral: we've been hearing that the PRC is about to attack for the last 70+ years, so let's get something to eat instead of worrying about that.
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